It’s 75 years to the day since India made their entry into the Test fold. It was a glorious summer day in 1932 when CK Nayudu walked out to lead a bunch of novices against England at Lord’s. India’s Test debut, at Lord’s on June 25, 1932, started in dramatic fashion when they reduced a strong England side to 19 for 3 inside the first hour. But there was to be no fairytale ending and India lost the match by 158 runs.
In 1929 India were admitted to the ICC and the India’s Test debut should have happened in 1930-31 but a tour by MCC was cancelled because of a civil disobedience campaign, and another attempt the following season was scrapped when threats to boycott all matches in Bombay were made.
The MCC is marking the 75th anniversary by commissioning a Pataudi Trophy, named after the Nawab of Pataudi Snr, who played for both England and India during his 14-year career.
Journey of Indian Cricket
India has thus far played 405 Tests but the country’s dismal record away from home remains a cause for worry. Of the 198 Tests India have played abroad, it has won only 28, lost 84 and drawn 86. Overall it’s been a paltry 90 wins and 131 losses.
After admission into Test cricket, India had to wait until February 1952 for their first win, a victory by an innings and eight runs against England in Chennai, then Madras.
It was not until February 1968 that India won its first Test match and series away from home shores under the leadership of young captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and the arrival of spin wizards Prasanna and Bedi. India went to beat New Zealand 3-1 in the four Test series.
Fifty-one years later after admitting to the ICC and up to the day, possibly the Indian cricket’s greatest day was, when Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup by beating West Indies (two times World Champion) with 43 runs .
India first Test Squad
- Colonel Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (Captain & Batsman)
- Janardhan Navle (Wicketkeeper & Batsman)
- Naoomal Jaoomal (Batsman)
- Syed Wazir Ali (Batsman)
- Sorabji Colah (Batsman)
- Phiroze Palia (Batsman)
- S Nazir Ali (medium-pace bowler)
- Lall Singh (Batsman and Outstanding Fielder)
- M Jahangir Khan (Medium Pace Bowler)
- L Amar Singh (Medium Pace Bowler)
- Mohammed Nissar (Pace Bowler)
Notes of First Test Match
- The Indians fully deserved the honour of a Test match. Their bowling was definitely good and their fielding admirable, quick and very clean, but not so fine nor so good as England. Their wicketkeeper good, but not so good as he looks.
- Their batting depends on too few men, but Amar Singh, a very fine all’ round cricketer, is a rare man on his form in this match at No. 10.
- The experience of this tour will improve their cricket enormously and the English public will welcome them again, for they play the game in the most attractive manner.
- They were very unlucky in the matter of accidents, Nazir Ali and Palia pulling muscles and, Nayudu, a fine allrounder, hurting his hand.
- England showed exceptional grit. In the second innings their first four bats, men all failed, comparatively speaking, but Jardine pulled the side round. He is a great batsman and captained the side extremely well, and he made a superb catch in h second innings at short third man.
- The partner for Sutcliffe is yet to be found, but we should make a lot of runs in Australia.
- Fielding was splendid. Hammond, Robins, Paynter and Voce are quite exceptionally good. Not a single catch was missed and only one lost chance of stumping.
- The bowling was remarkably good but it is certainly at present not good enough for Australia and this is a perplexing problem for M.C.C., Larwood’s strained leg making matters all the more difficult, but Voce, Robins and Brown arc most capable allrounders.
- Paynter’s second innings may mean much to him. He has only to concentrate on watching the stump outside his off stump to be very good. He is a fine fielder.
- Bowes must “go for” a length and forget, except occasionally, the short humping delivery.
